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Activities & Games

GEARING UP

As the guests arrive, have them get into the mood for adventure by decorating their jungle gear. Set up a place on the floor or at a table with straw pith helmets, big plastic bugs, and poster tack or double-sided foam tape. Hand each kid a bandanna to wear and set them to work sticking the critters to their hats. (Helmets, bugs, and bandannas are available at craft stores or online at www.iparty.com.)

CROCODILE ALLEY
After a jungle picnic, kids will be ready to tackle this indoor obstacle course. The goal: to carry a load of supplies through a gauntlet of challenges. Set it up in advance by laying a line of masking tape or painter's tape along the floor through a few rooms in your house, then add the obstacles listed below. Designate a large box for Base Camp Supplies (print out a label) and place a backpack, a rolled-up sleeping bag, a pillow, and a map in the box. Time each explorer as he takes everything from the box and hustles through the course carrying all the supplies. When he reaches the end, he must retrace his path, then place the supplies back into the box. The next player then grabs the gear and goes.

Crocodile Alley Obstacle Course
Encourage kids to cheer each other on through the course by chanting the upcoming obstacle.

Quicksand: set a blanket across a section for kids to leap over
Poisonous vines: tape a towel in a doorway to crawl under
Bat cave: bring together a few chairs and throw a blanket over them for crawling under
Crocodile territory: warn kids not to step on the floor off the tape
Spider nests: make dashes with the tape that kids have to hop over
Piranha pond: lay an area rug on the line for kids to jump over
Hungry jungle creatures: line up stuffed toys all along the way for kids to avoid

TREE FROG THROW
Kids will jump at the chance to test their aim -- and frog-tossing skills! -- with this game. Set it up before the party by taping a few paper bag vines and 6 various-size poster board leaves to a wall or door. Assign points to the leaves and challenge the players to take turns throwing sticky frogs (available at toy stores or online at www.iparty.com) at the leaves to see how high a score they can rack up. Please note: the sticky frogs can leave a slight residue on walls with eggshell or matte-finish paint. Use a shower curtain or plastic tablecloth to protect painted surfaces. Ready ... aim ... ribbit!

FLASHLIGHT SNAKE HUNT
Snakes are sneaky creatures, but they can't hide from your eagle-eyed explorers. Invite the kids to look for loads of slithering serpents in dark places: under rocks (sofa cushions), in caves (closets), and coiled in the bushes (houseplants). To set up for your snake hunt, hide several dozen plastic snakes around a dimly lit room. Supply each explorer or team of explorers with a flashlight, then send them into the dark depths of the jungle. As they find the snakes, have the kids put them into a snake pit (a large bowl), where they'll be divided evenly among the hunters at the end of the expedition. (Snakes and flashlights are available at craft or discount stores or at www.iparty.com.)

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